Product Description

National bestselling author Liz Carlyle concludes her scandalous new trilogy with a sensuous novel of two star-crossed souls who share a secret or two . . . or three.

Once upon a time, they eloped. But then dashing Scotsman Merrick MacLachlan accepted payment from Lady Madeleine's father to have the marriage annulled. Or did he?

Two times, Maddie has wed. Once for love, once for comfort. Yet once more she is alone with only her beloved son and his haunting visions for company. Until fate thrusts her back into the arms of her first love.

Three little secrets dance between them. One is that he desires her as much as ever; another is that she's never forgotten his touch. But the scars of their youthful passion run deep, and the third secret will either mark their undoing . . . or spark the sizzling reunion they dare not dream of.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171476 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-21
• Released on: 2006-03-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780743496124
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

From Publishers Weekly
While it's standard practice for books in a romance trilogy to share unifying elements—such as setting, characters and themes—few recycle plot devices as blatantly as the tales in Carlyle's historical Little trilogy (One Little Sin; Two Little Lies). In this third installment of the Regency saga, Carlyle spins a story of long-separated lovers who reunite, but only after much argument, miscommunication and the revelation of a baby's less-than-surprising true parentage. The plot will ring familiar to Carlyle's fans, primarily because it's a carbon copy of Two Little Lies. As in Lies, the hero and heroine—in this case hardened businessman Merrick MacLachlan and his former beau, Lady Madeleine Bessett—meet by chance in London and then spend the bulk of the book casting each other longing looks, declaring they want nothing to do with one another and indulging in angst-ridden personal flashbacks; it all grows tedious fast. It's a testament to Carlyle's skill that her characters engage despite the familiar setup, but in the end, they aren't dynamic enough to satisfy the story line or the reader. This book may contain Carlyle's signature sensuality, but it lacks the complexity of plot and character that made her earlier romances shine. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* When Lady Madeleine Bessett purchases a new home just outside London, she doesn't expect the wealthy developer to turn out to be her husband, Merrick MacLachlan. Thirteen years ago Madeleine eloped with Merrick, but Merrick disappeared during their honeymoon. Told that their marriage had been annulled, a desperate Madeleine married again, but this time not for love. Now, the recently widowed Madeleine has moved to London seeking help for her troubled son, Geoffrey, but she isn't sure that she can live in the same city as the notoriously ruthless and coldly businesslike Merrick. The one thing about which Madeleine is certain, however, is that if Merrick discovers her secret, he can ruin her life all over again. In her usual brilliant fashion, Carlyle brings her Sins, Lies, and Secrets trilogy to a splendid conclusion with a dark, deliciously sensual, richly emotional story of two people who are given another chance at love. With its exquisitely complex characters and luscious writing, Three Little Secrets is simply superb. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
During her frequent travels through England, Liz Carlyle always packs her pearls, her dancing slippers, and her whalebone corset, confident in the belief that eventually she will receive an invitation to a ball or a rout. Alas, none has been forthcoming. While waiting, however, she has managed to learn where all the damp, dark alleys and low public houses can be found.

Liz hopes she has brought just a little of the nineteenth century alive for the reader in her popular novels, which include the trilogy of One Little Sin, Two Little Lies, and Three Little Secrets, as well as The Devil You Know, A Deal With the Devil, and The Devil to Pay. Please visit her at www.lizcarlyle.com, especially if you're giving a ball.

Customer Reviews

Tinged with Betrayal, Bitterness...and Hope
Reading through reviews of "Three Little Secrets", I was almost convinced I wouldn't like the book. Accusations that Carlyle recreated the same storyline as in the previous title, "Two Little Lies", the same emotional turmoil, well, it almost made me dislike the book before I'd even read it. Who does want to read the same story when they're expecting to get something new? Yes, the third in Carlyle's latest series does bring to mind some of the same emotions and heartaches that the couple went through in "Two Little Lies", but I firmly believe that the author did a splendid job of creating fresh characters with totally different circumstances.

In the foolish frenzy and emotional rush that is youth, Merrick MacLachlan and Lady Madeline elope under the influence of their first love. A hasty marriage in Gretna Green though, is not enough to keep the hands of fate from ripping them apart most cruely. In this case, they have Maddie's father to thank for that. The meddlesome lord, who has political aspirations on the brain, is furious that his daughter, his one chance at a grand political alliance, has lowered herself to marry a businessman. Thinking that Merrick accepted payment to leave her from her father and signed papers for an annulment, she tearfully returns home and weds a man of her father's choosing. Thirteen years later, with a troubled son in tow, she comes back to London to find help for him. When fate brings her together once more with Merrick, old bitterness and hurts cannot help but come to the surface. And Merrick is bitter beyond imagining. Neither want the other, neither wants to feel anything for the other, but both are helpless to deny that under all the anger and grief, there may still be something worth fighting for.

Merrick and Maddie's story is very different from the previous book's. Sure, the intense emotions will bring to mind Viviana's intense temper (heroine in "Two Little Lies"), but Maddie's situation couldn't be more different. She and Merrick had the kind of strong and intense love, that once denied, twisted over time to the kind of gut wrenching agony that can only ignite when they once meet again. Of course, they must still care for one another if they are bothered by eachother still. I do agree with some reviewers' assessments about Merrick: he was very cold, very cruel and I did not like the way he treated Maddie or the names he called her at times. I cannot blame him though for his other intimate relationships he had aside from her. After all, she does marry another man and lives with him for many years. My only other complaint is that I do wish their resolution could have been reached before the very end of the book. Other than that, this is just the kind of historical I enjoy, but only occasionally. The intense and sometimes disturbing emotions that are rampant throughout this book are not for the faint of heart and not for me with every book. But I do enjoy a good tear jerker from time to time and I enjoyed the in-your-face emotional storm that Carlyle has taken readers through with her latest series. Maddie's son, Geoffrey, was very interesting as well and his own personal dilemma is not one readers usually see in these mainstream historical romances. If you like characters that are well-rounded and emotionally engaging give this one a try. Don't forget about the previous two, "One Little Sin" and "Two Little Lies". A great series and one for my keeper shelf.

Third of the Trilogy - Tormented Hero
I've read all three of the Sins, Lies and Secrets Trilogy. Since I read them all out of order, I can tell you they are still good stand-alone but much better to read in order since they over-lap. Also the characters are recurring and it is nice to revisit them all later! The third book also mentions "the gypsy's curse," but it is not the overwhelming premise. This book was a shade darker emotionally than the others.

Merrick MacLachlan is the most tormented of the three men in the trilogy. He has loved and lost ... his wife, his looks, practically his humanity! He lives only to work and also there is the warped thought of revenge. His wife, Lady Madeleine has also lost what she once had. The most weak-willed of the three heroines in these stories, she has good reason to be. She was very young when she and Merrick eloped and beatings from her father after the marriage was annulled have done serious damage to her spirit. But these many years later, after marriage to an older gentleman and travel around the world, she has come back as a widow to settle in London with her young son. Her son is "different" and she seeks to find out what is wrong with him. She is not the same woman as when she was young and meetings with Merrick lead to fights - but later to a realization that they both had been lied to! Can the years of self-loathing be overcome? What of her son's illness?

I felt this couple had the most to overcome for there to be a successful reconciliation. It was accomplished in a very interesting way. I liked when they moved to Scotland and granny. This was a wonderful finale to the series ... you mean there are no more???? Well worth reading.

Fabulous - Mesmerizing - Simmering Sensuality
Carlyle brilliantly caps off her latest connected series with THREE LITTLE SECRETS-- a lively and gripping tale featuring Merrick MacLachlan, the dour `black' Scot brother of Alasdair MacLachlan, hero of the initial book in this series, ONE LITTLE SIN.

Thirteen years ago, Merrick MacLachlan eloped to Gretna Green with seventeen year old Lady Madeline Jessup. Tracked down by her ruthless father, Merrick was set-up, brutally beaten, and left for dead. Lady Madeline was led to believe Merrick was a grasping rotter, whose sole purpose in marrying her was to, ruin her, blackmail her father into financing his architectural dreams, and then annul the marriage.

By the time Merrick was able to travel to reclaim his wife, he discovered he was weeks too late. She'd been married off to a man twice her age and shipped off to parts unknown. Despising her for having so little faith in him and with additional lies told to him about her, any visage he had of a heart was torn to shreds. In the intervening years, Merrick became an embittered, ruthless but overwhelmingly successful and prosperous businessman.

Now, coming face to face, their secrets would be revealed with a finality that both had dreamed of, but never dared hoped for. Guilty of pride, they believed the worst of each other, yet, in their innermost hearts, Madeline and Merrick still harbored the deepest passion they once felt for one another. In order to save their son, they would come to an accord, which would finally let them sort through the secrets in order to reclaim a passion that never fully died.

*** As always, Carlyle weaves magic into her sensual laden prose, giving the reader a bonanza of a treat and completely mesmerizing the reader from the very beginning. Since her very first novel, I have been hooked by this author! Her writing is sensual, passionate, and will hook you from the very first pages to a most satisfying and heartwarming end. This is definitely another book for my `keeper' shelf and one I most HIGHLY recommend!